COLLEGE CREEK
March 29 2009: Melbourne Age. Conservationists Slam Logging Backflip
Feb 17 2009: Nippon buys into Logging Controversy
Management of College Creek was purchased by Hancock Victorian Plantations when they bought the assets of Australian Paper Plantations in August 2001. College Creek was first put under forestry management in 1966 under the APM Wood Pulp Agreement. Widespread logging of the catchment did not occur until the mid 1970's. Widespread reforestation of the catchment occurred in 1977 when a large portion of the catchment was replanted. It is these trees that Hancock Victorian Plantation now want to log, which will mean increased risk to rainforest, particularly through Myrtle Wilt.
More details on College Creek can be found here on the Hancock Watch site
May 31 2008: Strzelecki Rainforest Reserve, including College Creek to be gutted to supply Maryvale Pulp Mill with pulpwood for only two years
College Creek Catchment - Paperlinx/APP leasehold.
The College Creek catchment is unusual because of its;
* Location. A northerly facing aspect and the significance of its flora and fauna.
* The extent of Cool Temperate Rainforest, listed under schedule 3 of the Flora and Fauna Guarantee Act, is larger than that contained within Tarra Bulga National Park.
*The area is mapped as an endangered and rare Ecological Vegetation Community, EVC, in Victoria.
Rare and vascular plant species identified by the Department of Natural Resources and Environment (DNRE) botanists and plant specimens lodged with the Victorian Herbarium.
* Slender Cyathea cunninghamii Rr (and Skirted Tree Ferns to be listed) - Rare in Australia and rare in Victoria.
* The stronghold in Victoria for the Slender Fork fern, Tmesipteris elongata Rv - Rare (in Australia) and vulnerable (in Victoria) abd is known in only 3 localities in Australia.
* Oval Fork fern Tmesipteris ovata r-Rare in Victoria. State Significance.
* River Hook sedge Unicia nemoralis r-Rare in Victoria.
Rare Fauna includes identified by samples sent to Barbara Triggs and DNRE Zoologists identifying recorded Owl calls.
* The Broad tooth-rat with a restricted habitat and disjunct distribution
in Victoria.
* Strzelecki (endemic) Koala.
* Yellow-bellied Glider (chewballs and sighting). State significance outside
its recorded range. Requires further verification.
* Powerful Owl - threatened species listed under Schedule 2 of the Flora
and Fauna Guarantee Act. dependent upon hollow bearing trees.
* The Strzelecki burrowing Crayfish provisional listing under Schedule
2 of the Flora and Fauna Guarantee Act.
Many species of arboreal mammals are restricted to mature vegetation stands, eg Mt. Brushtain Possum, Bobuck, Yellow-bellied and Greater Gliders. These mammals are all dependent upon hollow bearing trees, which take over 100 years to form.
Gliders, Koalas and several bat species are sensitive to clearfelling and may die during clearfelling operations.
The density of these mammals affects the abundance of predators such as the Powerful Owl.
The species diversity and age composition of forests are determinants of the faunal composition of the forests.
Clearfelling chnages floristic composition of the overstorey and short rotations select against favoured tree species of many mammal, forest and woodland birds.
Recent listing on Schedule 3 of the Flora and Fauna Guarantee Act of Human activity which results in artificially elevated or epidemic levels of Myrtle Wilt within Nothofagus-dominated Cool Temperate Rainforest. A disease fatal to all infected trees.
Listing under Schedule 3 of the Flora and Fauna Guarantee Act, Habitat Fragmentation as a Threatening Process for Fauna in Victoria.
College Creek Catchment was designated to be of State Significance. Bill Peel Rainforest and Cool Temperate Mixed Forest of Victoria. DNRE.
College Creek catchment is the last substantial area within APP land holdings in the Strzeleckis, which contains Cool Temperate Rainforest. It forms a natural linking corridor between the Agnes and Franklin Catchments, West Branch Morwell River, Albert River, Jack River, South Middle Creek, Merriman Creek to Tarra Bulga National Park.